{"id":18004,"date":"2022-10-11T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-10T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/?post_type=purple_issue&p=18004"},"modified":"2022-11-02T12:48:00","modified_gmt":"2022-11-02T11:48:00","slug":"from-the-editor-9","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/2022\/10\/11\/from-the-editor-9\/","title":{"rendered":"From the editor"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

FROM THE EDITOR<\/h3>\n\n
\"This<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

It started with E.T. <\/em>It\u2019s the first film I can remember. My cousin sat me in front of a TV, slotted the tape into the VHS player and that was that: I fell in love with movies about aliens. Years later, a science teacher (who I now realise might have been feeling the after-effects of a big night out) darkened the room and put Independence <\/em>Day <\/em>on laser disc into the TV on wheels to silence a classroom full of 12-year-olds. It worked, and I realised then that aliens may not be so friendly after all. And then I watched Alien. <\/em><\/p>\n\n

As any aficionado of extraterrestrials will tell you, it doesn\u2019t tend to end well for us when we cross paths with beings from another planet. We usually end up eaten, enslaved or extinct. And, yet these warnings haven\u2019t stopped scientists from seeking out ET. Maybe it\u2019s because fiction tends to hold up a mirror to ourselves, revealing our own instincts and insecurities. Or, maybe it\u2019s because the discovery of an alien signal would be the most profound moment in our entire history: it would mean Earth was not a one-off. Either way, whether you like to think of aliens as benevolent, waddling potato sacks, or invading, stabby insectoids, we are now scanning more of the cosmos with more sophisticated tech than ever before. The search for extraterrestrial intelligence has arguably never been so big. <\/p>\n\n

So it begs the question: what would actually happen if we spotted an alien signal in the ether? Dr Stuart Clark digs into the drama over in our cover feature First Contact<\/em> (which shares its title with the incredible BBC film that hits our screens this month \u2013 don’t miss it!).<\/p>\n\n

\"This<\/figure>\n\n

Daniel Bennett, Editor<\/p>\n\n

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CONTRIBUTORS <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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DR KATIE MACK<\/span><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Dark matter outweighs the visible stuff six to one, yet we still don\u2019t know what it\u2019s made of. Cosmologist Katie reveals why that doesn\u2019t keep her up at night.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

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DR DEAN BURNETT<\/span><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The UK grieved together over the death of the Queen. Neuroscientist Dean explains why national mourning is such a fundamental part of being human.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

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DR BRITTNEY BOROWIEC<\/span><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Biologist and zoologist Brittney gets stuck in to the grisly world of vampirism, just in time for Halloween.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

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DR HELEN PILCHER<\/span><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Did you know that, genetically, we\u2019re more like fungi than plants? If not, then you might want to check out biologist Helen\u2019s guide to the fungal world.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

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ON THE BBC THIS MONTH…<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

People Fixing The World: Sustainability In Death<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re running out of space for the dead. Cremation releases hundreds of kilos of CO2<\/sub> and traditional burials leach poisons into ground. The team explores the cutting-edge, sustainable alternatives out there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

BBC World Service 11 October, 3pm<\/strong><\/strong>. Also available on BBC Sounds<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Costing The Earth: The Prehistoric Hitchhiker\u2019s Guide To Climate Change<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

How did early humans survive a changing climate? Eleanor Rosamund-Barraclough (pictured above) joins an archaeological dig in Malta to see whether there are lessons we can learn from our history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BBC Radio 4 11 October, 3:30pm Also available on BBC Sounds<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Frozen Planet II<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

If you can withstand the heartache, the new series will be available on iPlayer in its entirety. Just watch through your fingers when you see a baby seal on screen\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Available on iPlayer<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

<\/div>
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Want more? Follow us<\/strong>
Facebook<\/a> \u2022 Twitter<\/a> \u2022 Instagram<\/a> \u2022 Pinterest<\/a> \u2022 Podcast<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

CONTACT US<\/span><\/h5>\n\n

Advertising<\/strong>\u00a0\u2022\u00a0<\/strong>David.Dsouza@ourmedia.co.uk<\/a><\/a>\u00a00117 300 8110<\/p>\n\n

Letters for publication<\/strong> \u2022 <\/strong>reply@sciencefocus.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n

Editorial enquiries<\/strong> \u2022 <\/strong>editorialenquiries@sciencefocus.com<\/a> 0117 300 8755<\/p>\n\n

Subscriptions<\/strong> \u2022 <\/strong>buysubscriptions.com\/contactus<\/a> 03330 162 113*<\/p>\n\n

Other contacts<\/strong> \u2022 <\/strong>sciencefocus.com\/contact<\/a><\/p>\n\n

*UK calls will cost the same as other standard fixed line numbers (starting 01 or 02) and are included as part of any inclusive or free minutes allowances (if offered by your phone tariff). Outside of free call packages call charges from mobile phones will cost between 3p and 55p per minute. Lines are open Mon to Fri 9am-5pm. If calling from overseas, please call +44 1604 973721. BBC Science Focus<\/em> (ISSN 0966-4270) (USPS 015-160) is published 14 times a year (monthly with a Summer issue in July and a New Year issue in December) by Our Media Company, Eagle House, Bristol, BS1 4ST. Distributed in the US by NPS Media Group, 2 Enterprise Drive, Suite 420, Shelton, CT 06484. Periodicals postage paid at Shelton, CT and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to BBC Science Focus, <\/em>PO Box 37495, Boone, IA 50037-0495.<\/p>\n\n

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES, TIM FLACH\/BBC, SHUTTERSTOCK<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

FROM THE EDITOR It started with E.T. It\u2019s the first film I can remember. My cousin sat me in front of a TV, slotted the tape into the VHS player and that was that: I fell in love with movies about aliens. Years later, a science teacher (who I now realise might have been feeling […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":17995,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ub_ctt_via":"","purple_page_number":"3","purple_custom_meta_purple_page_number":"3","purple_seq_number":"1","purple_custom_meta_purple_seq_number":"1","purple_source_article":"article_3-1.xml","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_article":"article_3-1.xml","purple_source_issue":"October-2022","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_issue":"October-2022","purple_external_id":"October-2022-3-1","purple_custom_meta_purple_external_id":"October-2022-3-1","purple_issue_code":"|0000089659||","purple_custom_meta_purple_issue_code":"|0000089659||","purple_android_product":"com.focus.magazine.issue383","purple_custom_meta_purple_android_product":"com.focus.magazine.issue383.2","purple_ios_product":"com.focus.magazine.issue383","purple_custom_meta_purple_ios_product":"com.focus.magazine.issue383.2","purple_web_product":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_web_product":"","purple_publication_id":"0f422ad1-c939-476d-9f82-a410052ad4c3","purple_migrated":"","kt_blocks_editor_width":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"2022-10-11T10:33:27Z","apple_news_article-theme":"","apple_news_api_id":"5831dead-3cd2-4fef-a267-da6f76dbb739","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2022-10-12T08:52:23Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADQ==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/AWDHerTzST--iZ9pvdtu3OQ","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":true,"apple_news_is_preview":true,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_article_theme":"","apple_news_sections":"[]"},"categories":[22],"tags":[15],"apple_news_notices":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/10\/b80b2c0a-deb0-4723-9d4c-37b1df5b7807.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"5","apple_news_title":""},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/10\/b80b2c0a-deb0-4723-9d4c-37b1df5b7807.jpg",221,338,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/10\/b80b2c0a-deb0-4723-9d4c-37b1df5b7807-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/10\/b80b2c0a-deb0-4723-9d4c-37b1df5b7807-196x300.jpg",196,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/10\/b80b2c0a-deb0-4723-9d4c-37b1df5b7807.jpg",221,338,false],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/10\/b80b2c0a-deb0-4723-9d4c-37b1df5b7807.jpg",221,338,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/10\/b80b2c0a-deb0-4723-9d4c-37b1df5b7807.jpg",221,338,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/10\/b80b2c0a-deb0-4723-9d4c-37b1df5b7807.jpg",221,338,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"FROM THE EDITOR It started with E.T. It\u2019s the first film I can remember. My cousin sat me in front of a TV, slotted the tape into the VHS player and that was that: I fell in love with movies about aliens. Years later, a science teacher (who I now realise might have been feeling…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18004"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18004"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18004\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20668,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18004\/revisions\/20668"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17995"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18004"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18004"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18004"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}